Federal Govt Seeks Land From Governors For Renewed Hope Cities

Federal government has requested governors of the 36 states of the federation to provide 50 hectares of land for Renewed Hope Cities.

It stated that decent, quality and affordable housing for all Nigerians is a priority of the incumbent administration.

The minister of housing and urban development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, made the request yesterday during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, at the ministry headquarters in Abuja.

He said the ministry was working with the National Population Commission (NPC) to establish the actual housing deficit.

He said, “Our in-house estimates show that for us to meet the housing needs of Nigerians, we need to build about 550,000 new homes per annum over the next 10 years. That is the massive size of our housing challenge. We require about N4.4 trillion per annum.

“Records show that over the past decades, federal agencies and the Ministry of Housing combined produce less than 15,000 housing units per year. A key reason for this is, of course, the big elephant in the room: inadequate access to finance. While this is true, I also believe that we have not been innovative enough in finding solutions to meet the challenge in a bold and audacious manner.

“The good news is that we have a President who is a proven game-changer. He has demonstrated this in all of his policy announcements. So, as we acknowledge the challenge before us, we are not frightened by it. Rather, we see it as a golden opportunity to make a difference in the history of affordable housing in our country.

“Already, we have written letters to be sent to all the state governors seeking about 50 hectares of land for renewed hope cities. I’m sure that your excellency will be kind and gracious enough to honour our request.”

Earlier, Kefas has said they have come to pay a solidarity visit and pledge their support to the minister to move the ministry forward.

According to him, Taraba is well known to the minister and it’s a good place to be and invest.

He, however, said that they want to collaborate with the ministry and whatever the infrastructure development the ministry wants to bring or show it presents in Taraba State, they are ready to partner with it.